STAFF

The HALIFAX FOLKLORE CENTRE was started and has been under continuous ownership by Tom and Marla Dorward since 1971. We are a unique music shop in a 150 year-old Victorian home, where stringed musical instruments are bought, sold, traded, consigned, built, repaired and appraised. We have a highly knowledgeable and experienced staff. We are musicians and we care about the instruments and the people who play them.  Customer service is our cornerstone.

THOMAS DORWARD—LUTHIER AND OWNER

Tom built his first instrument, a classical guitar, when he was still in high school, and had already made three guitars when he enrolled in university. During three years of his undergraduate degree in psychology, he worked at Herb David’s Guitar Studio, alongside Dan Erlewine (now of Stewart-MacDonald Mfg. Co.), repairing and constructing musical instruments. In 1969 Tom enrolled in graduate Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and built several types of stringed instruments, including guitars, Appalachian dulcimers, and banjos.  (One wonders when he found time to study  psychology…?)

Shortly after leaving Dalhousie and a year of  teaching high school math, Tom and his wife Marla took the plunge, and opened The Halifax Folklore Centre in June l971. The original focus was to buy, sell, trade, build and repair FRETTED stringed instruments. Tom later expanded his scope to include instruments of the VIOLIN family.

In 1974 the Canadian Museum of Civilization commissioned Tom to make four instruments for their permanent collection of works by Canadian makers. The resulting two banjos and two dulcimers are now on display in the museum.

After forty plus years, and thousands of repairs and restorations, you will still find Tom at his workbench doing what he loves.

DEVIN SHAEL FOX

Devin Shael Fox began playing guitar at 8. From there he studied classical vocal for years, briefly attended Humber College for bass, and has toured the country with a variety of bands. Currently in four projects around town (including the multiple Music Nova Scotia Award nominated Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset), Devin’s tastes are varied ranging from Jazz, to Rock ‘n’ Roll, to good old fashioned country, and beyond. A songwriter in his own right you can hear his work as part of the country duo Steele Fox (wherever you happen to stream  music) or catch him at a gig in town. Having worked as a graphic and web designer for the last 10 years Devin has been tasked with bringing new design elements to the shop while maintaining the store’s essential feel and brand.

NOAH TYE

Noah was born into a very musical family. He started in Grade one with the ukulele, which led to the fiddle in Grade four, & finally guitar by age eleven. After finding himself amongst many blues musicians in Junior High, Noah picked up the harmonica & started playing in some of his first bands. He draws his musical influences from blues, folk, country, & rock ‘n roll. Noah writes his own music with many different genres in mind. He plays his own original music around Nova Scotia, and released his debut album in the Fall of 2009. Noah started working for his first music store over a decade ago & gained a great interest in stringed instruments. This interest led him to the Halifax Folklore Centre where you can find him today. He takes great pride & care in matching the right instrument to each customer’s needs.

1528 Brunswick Street, Halifax NovaScotia (Just off of Spring Garden Road)

A Unique Music Store where Stringed Musical Instruments are:
BOUGHT • SOLD • TRADED • CONSIGNED • BUILT • REPAIRED • APPRAISED